WHEN is getting disqualified from a cycling race a good sign? How about because you produce so much power in your final sprint the system can't process you?
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Bathurst Cycling Club junior Luke Tuckwell did just that in the second round on the online State of Origin cycling series.
Tuckwell decided to enter the Zwift racing series as a way to get an idea of how his training was progressing during the coronavirus.
Turns out Bathurst's A grade track scratch champion is doing well as he waits for proper racing to return.
"Basically all my racing has been cancelled for the next couple of months, so it was a way to still have some racing and see where I sitting against well pros really and see how my training is really going," the talented under 17s rider said.
"I'm in A grade so it is a bit of a challenge, it's hard basically racing against men and pros.
"I finished about 25th [in round two], there was about 30 in front bunch at the end. But the way that Zwift works, it disqualified about 25 guys in that front bunch, including me, for our power being too high for the system.
"It was a bit frustrating I got kicked out, but then I was like 'Well I'm obviously going too fast' so that was a good feeling."
Tuckwell competed in the series opener on April 30, but a power outage just prior to the start meant by the time he joined, he was left to chase.
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But in round two as over 350 riders tackled Watopia's Hilly course, Tuckwell was on the pace early.
And given that pace was some 50km/hr then into a climb almost straight away, that was a fair effort.
"With Zwift races, how they go, they are hard straight out of the blocks no matter what it is. The course that we were doing, after about a kay it went straight up hill, it was one of the hardest starts," Tuckwell said.
"But I was able to stay at the front and was fourth over the climb on the first lap, so I was pretty happy with that.
"They are a lot shorter than races on the road and the intensity is so much higher, so you're naturally more fatigued and under the pump more."
As well as getting to test his legs against older, more experienced riders in the online platform, Tuckwell enjoys the chance of being able to represent New South Wales in its battle against Queensland.
He plans to ride in the final round of the series on May 14 as well.
"The State of Origin, it's an added bonus, it's a lot of fun seeing Queensland guys getting dropped on the right hand side where everyone's names are and you are riding past them all," he laughed.
"I will ride in the third round, I guess I'll try and stay with the front bunch and try and conserve a bit of energy so I have a bit more left at the end."
Tuckwell is also planning to take part in the online National Junior Racing Series, which will commence on May 17 with the Borrego Spring course.
It is open to juniors from Australia and New Zealand and feature four races. Tuckwell will race directly against athletes in his age category.
